Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

We and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You can read more about it and change your preferences here.
Agree
BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes
User submission
19K
239.5K
Art, Photography

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

David Perkins
Community member
Open list comments 24
Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down

156

Open list comments

24

ADVERTISEMENT

I have been photographing professional dancers for almost ten years now. Primarily my dance photography work has had a large amount of production to it. Studios, lighting, hair, make up. It can get expensive and exhausting. A couple of years ago, I began a portrait photography series with the intention to bring it back to the basics. Bring the joy back to my work with dancers.

I tried to think of a type of project I could do. What had been done before? Everything had been done before. But then I realized, that was a lie. Dancers are almost always seen performing. They are seen on stage, or on the screen, or even showing out the dance moves in New York City among the many landmarks. What you never see are dancers at home, just being themselves. So these interesting photos are what I began to focus on.

Dancers in their Home Stage. No lights. No studios. No hair or makeup done. And even no colors in these black and white photos. Just dancers being themselves… well, sort of.

More info: davidperkinsphotography.com

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

ADVERTISEMENT

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

ADVERTISEMENT

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

ADVERTISEMENT

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

I Photograph Dancers In Their Own Homes

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

240Kviews

Share on Facebook
Vote arrow up

156

Vote arrow down
Open list comments

24
Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down

156

Open list comments

24

David Perkins

David Perkins

Author, Community member

Read more »

Born in small town Illinois, surrounded by corn fields. I received a BFA in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design and now I work as a photo editor in NYC. I hike, I play bagpipes, I walk my dog, and I take pictures. IG: thePhotopiper

Read less »
David Perkins

David Perkins

Author, Community member

Read more »

Born in small town Illinois, surrounded by corn fields. I received a BFA in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design and now I work as a photo editor in NYC. I hike, I play bagpipes, I walk my dog, and I take pictures. IG: thePhotopiper

Read less »
What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
boredpanda-com_6 avatar
Benny
Benny
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Female-to-male ratio: 15:2. Female underwear to fully-clothed ratio: 8:7. Male underwear to fully-clothed ratio: 0:2.

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
jen_gaiavegan avatar
JenTyler
JenTyler
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely lovely! Beauty, grace and power captured in these stunning works! Well done.

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
Pam_Blything avatar
PamBlything
PamBlything
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Permission to share some of these photos please with a link to David's website?

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
spookygirlinsandiego avatar
HauntedSanDiego
HauntedSanDiego
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any time they are jumping it makes me feel so joyful. It's like they're so happy they have to leap and it's like seeing a picture of my own heart in flight. Hard to put it into words! :-)

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
syrcatalyst avatar
SyrCatalyst
SyrCatalyst
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As usual the females are photographed in lingerie and other skimpy outfits while the token male shots were fully clothed. Just more soft porn disguised as 'art'.

Vote comment up
0
0points
Vote comment down
reply
ionitunes avatar
ionitunes
ionitunes
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mostly too staged. No reflection on the dancers, just the choreography.

Vote comment up
-2
-2points
Vote comment down
reply
dwpphoto avatar
DavidPerkins (Post author)
DavidPerkins
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry to say, but you don't seem to have an understanding of dance photography or dancers. The only photographs not "staged" are photo journalistic. And even those are highly edited so that you only see what the photographer wants you to see. The dancers created the movements in each image themselves. Each move a dancer makes is a direct reflection of who they are as a person and every experience they've been through that makes them who they are as a dancer. Dancers are thoughtful and intentional. Every move they make is with purpose. So when you say "pose," a dancer and dance photographer would say "express." Choreography is a series of movements that are put together to express these thoughts, emotions and experiences. By using that term you have negated your entire statement.

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
Load More Replies...
diana.covell.5 avatar
DianaCovell
DianaCovell
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? Dancers don't have clothes?

Vote comment up
-2
-2points
Vote comment down
reply
Imperfekt avatar
Imperfekt
Imperfekt
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What are you talking about? They are all clothed. Some with long pants, tee shirts. Some with dance wear or athletic clothing. Do the ones who are more lightly dressed bother you that much?

Vote comment up
0
0points
Vote comment down
reply
Load More Replies...
HelenBaq avatar
VikiThurman
VikiThurman
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, most of these look staged. While I can believe someone sits around in a weird position watching TV, toe shoes to get coffee or cook? Twisting around on the floor to apply mascara? The backdrop of an unremarkable apartment does nothing to enhance the photos. Maybe find a different gimmick.

Vote comment up
-3
-3points
Vote comment down
reply
POST
boredpanda-com_6 avatar
Benny
Benny
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Female-to-male ratio: 15:2. Female underwear to fully-clothed ratio: 8:7. Male underwear to fully-clothed ratio: 0:2.

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
jen_gaiavegan avatar
JenTyler
JenTyler
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely lovely! Beauty, grace and power captured in these stunning works! Well done.

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
Pam_Blything avatar
PamBlything
PamBlything
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Permission to share some of these photos please with a link to David's website?

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
spookygirlinsandiego avatar
HauntedSanDiego
HauntedSanDiego
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any time they are jumping it makes me feel so joyful. It's like they're so happy they have to leap and it's like seeing a picture of my own heart in flight. Hard to put it into words! :-)

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
syrcatalyst avatar
SyrCatalyst
SyrCatalyst
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As usual the females are photographed in lingerie and other skimpy outfits while the token male shots were fully clothed. Just more soft porn disguised as 'art'.

Vote comment up
0
0points
Vote comment down
reply
ionitunes avatar
ionitunes
ionitunes
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mostly too staged. No reflection on the dancers, just the choreography.

Vote comment up
-2
-2points
Vote comment down
reply
dwpphoto avatar
DavidPerkins (Post author)
DavidPerkins
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry to say, but you don't seem to have an understanding of dance photography or dancers. The only photographs not "staged" are photo journalistic. And even those are highly edited so that you only see what the photographer wants you to see. The dancers created the movements in each image themselves. Each move a dancer makes is a direct reflection of who they are as a person and every experience they've been through that makes them who they are as a dancer. Dancers are thoughtful and intentional. Every move they make is with purpose. So when you say "pose," a dancer and dance photographer would say "express." Choreography is a series of movements that are put together to express these thoughts, emotions and experiences. By using that term you have negated your entire statement.

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
Load More Replies...
diana.covell.5 avatar
DianaCovell
DianaCovell
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? Dancers don't have clothes?

Vote comment up
-2
-2points
Vote comment down
reply
Imperfekt avatar
Imperfekt
Imperfekt
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What are you talking about? They are all clothed. Some with long pants, tee shirts. Some with dance wear or athletic clothing. Do the ones who are more lightly dressed bother you that much?

Vote comment up
0
0points
Vote comment down
reply
Load More Replies...
HelenBaq avatar
VikiThurman
VikiThurman
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, most of these look staged. While I can believe someone sits around in a weird position watching TV, toe shoes to get coffee or cook? Twisting around on the floor to apply mascara? The backdrop of an unremarkable apartment does nothing to enhance the photos. Maybe find a different gimmick.

Vote comment up
-3
-3points
Vote comment down
reply
You May Like
Back to Homepage
More about Art
Homepage
Trending
Art
Arrow point to left Homepage
Next in Art Arrow point to right
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Popular Games
Arrow point to left
Arrow point to right

Word Search

Dive into a grid of letters to uncover hidden words. Search horizontally, vertically, and diagonally to complete it!

WordroW

Arrange letters in a grid to form as many words as you can. A fun and fast-paced word-building challenge!

Jigsaw

Piece together an image by matching interlocking pieces. Perfect for visual problem solvers and puzzle enthusiasts.

Crossword

Challenge your mind with this classic word puzzle. Fill in the grid with words that match the provided clues.

Sudoku

Fill the 9x9 grid so each row, column, and 3x3 subgrid has 1 to 9. Sharpen your logic with this number puzzle!

Picdoku

Merge Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles with pictures! Ensure no image repeats in any row or column to complete the picture.

Killer Sudoku

Combine Sudoku logic with arithmetic challenges. Fill the grid so each region’s cells add up to the specified sum.

Kriss Kross

Fit a list of words into a blank grid, much like a crossword without clues. A satisfying word placement puzzle for all ages!

Word Flower

Connect letters in a flower-shaped grid to form words from the center. Creative and engaging wordplay awaits!

Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda